Launch of GESCI, founded by the UN ICT Task Force

GESCI, founded by the UN ICT Task Force was launched in Kenya on September 29th last at the IGF conference. The independent international non-governmental organisation (NGO) will contribute to the development of a knowledge society through the provision of strategic advice and technical support on the integration of ICT in Education, Science, Technology and Innovation systems in Kenya.

Founded with a mandate to contribute to the development of Knowledge Societies in the developing world, GESCI was determined to earn the status that would reflect the pivotal role it plays in the development of knowledge society related policy around the world, with a special focus on Education.

GESCI is currently working with governments in Kenya, Rwanda, Ghana, Tanzania, Mauritius, Zambia, South Africa, Uganda, Angola, and Botswana. The NGO is a partner of the African Union Commission (AUC), the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), and the United Nations Economic Commission for Arica (UNECA).

Founded by the government of Finland, Sweden, Ireland and Switzerland, GESCI expects to create a multi-stakeholder knowledge exchange platform that will bring together private, public and civil society to create knowledge partnerships.

Meanwhile, GESCI has appointed Jerome Morrissey as their new CEO. Mr Morrissey, first director of the National Centre for Technology in Education in Ireland (www.ncte.ie), will oversee the fulfillment of GESCI’s mission. Mr Morrissey will be based at GESCIs headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Mr Morrissey has been responsible for the implementation of the Irish government's ICT Initiative in Irish schools and for advising the Government on ICT policy in education. Mr Morrissey takes over from Jyrki Pulkkinen who has returned to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland as Senior Adviser on Information Society Science, Technology and Innovation following a three year term with GESCI.